A Capsule Look: Cubs Vs. Indians

Big Picture

Cubs: World Series favorites since opening day, Chicago (103-58) finished with best record in majors and entered playoffs with a large, excited fan base hoping against hope that the first championship in more than a century was finally around the corner. Now, the Cubs need just four more wins to make it happen. Chicago jumped out to 25-6 start on the way to a runaway title in NL Central. Knocked off playoff-tested San Francisco in tense NL Division Series and took out Dodgers in NLCS after getting swept by Mets a year ago. Cubs rebounded from back-to-back shutout losses against Los Angeles by scoring 23 runs over final three games.

Indians: Hoping to deliver a rare double championship for Cleveland after LeBron James and the Cavaliers won NBA title in June. Cleveland is making its sixth World Series and first since 1997, when they lost Game 7 in extra innings to the Marlins. Terry Francona has pushed all the right buttons in the postseason and masterfully maneuvered his stellar bullpen, led by the incomparable Andrew Miller. Francona is 8-0 in World Series games. The Indians, who have overcome injuries, suspensions and doubts all season, are 7-1 in postseason after sweeping Boston in AL Division Series and eliminating Toronto in five games in ALCS.

Cubs Probable Game 1 Lineup

t Dexter Fowler, CF: After a 2-for-15 NLDS, went 9-for-27 with four RBI in NLCS